Police and Shin Bet agents have solved two stabbing attacks, one in Samaria (Shomron) and one in Jerusalem. Two suspects have been taken into custody, both Palestinian Authority residents in their 20s.

The first attack took place on January 23 at the Tapuach junction. The victim, an Israeli man, suffered moderate wounds.

Attacker Mistafa Aadel Mistafa Barghouti was arrested later that day, and was recently indicted. Barghouti, 23, is a student from the town of Beit Rima in the Binyamin region.

Barghouti has confessed to the attack and to involvement in attacks on IDF soldiers as well. He said he had acted alone, and had decided to commit a terrorist attack just that morning. He had intended to stab a soldier, but after looking for one unsuccessfully for 30 minutes decided to stab a civilian instead.

He told investigators that his only regret is that his victim did not die.

The second stabbing attack took place on February 4 on Sultan Suleiman Street in Jerusalem. The victim was saved thanks to a prayer book in his pocket, which absorbed most of the blow. He suffered light injuries.

Police arrested attacker Samer Ahmed Mahmoud Matar at the scene. Matar, 28, is from Kfar Idna in the Hevron region.

He confessed to the attack and said he had been planning to murder a Jew – either a hareidi-religious Jew or a “settler” – for three months. He entered Jerusalem illegally several days before the attack.

He told investigators that he had also considered making a bomb and placing it on a bus carrying hareidi-religious Jews to the city of Beit Shemesh.